Liberals mulling compulsory voting in federal elections

At a time when voter participation in elections continues to dwindle, the Liberal Party of Canada is entertaining the idea of making voting obligatory in federal elections.

A survey sent by mail to party caucus members explores the option, which is part of a new round of ideas proposed by Liberal members of parliament at a caucus retreat last week.

Adding compulsory voting to the party platform by the time the next federal election rolls around in 2015 is not a done deal, however, but deputy Liberal leader Ralph Goodale says he believes the idea has enough merit to be studied further.

The Liberals have said previously that, if elected into power in 2015, the party would create an all-party committee to look into electoral and parliamentary reform, including adding obligatory voting.

Compulsory voting is a violation of democracy for it removes peoples option to choose. Not voting in an election is such a choice and in effect a vote in itself especially in this first past the post system which skews the results putting people into power who do not belong there.

If I'm not on the voter list how can I be compelled. If they find me then the process of doing that could violate privacy laws. Since I'm going to spoil my ballot anyway, what's the point, it's a waste of time, paper and energy

I do not think that is a very good idea. The use of not voting, as a means of rejecting all of the candidates in a riding, is a way of saying no to all of the Parties. It says give me someone to vote for.